Fighting Back Against Himalayan Balsam

Tackling the takeover of Himalayan Balsam (HB) on Hell Wath is our no.1 challenge – and we are making real progress thanks to the efforts of many volunteers.

Posters around Hell Wath encourage people to pull up 5 HB plants every time they visit – and many people are taking up the challenge. Every HB plant pulled up saves about 800 seeds from being spread – that’s a lot of plants we won’t have to pull up next year. THANK YOU !!!

Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Cubs have all been on Hell Wath to help and all had fun pulling up, piling up and jumping on HB plants. GREAT JOB !!!

FOHW volunteers have concentrated their efforts on clearing HB from the top of the Fairy Steps through the woods to the pond, around the pond, all around the big meadow to the quarry, along the path between the pond and the quarry and inside and around the quarry. There have been HB bashes every Wednesday and Saturday morning (see events for details) and our volunteers’ efforts have made a BIG difference. There aren’t many HB plants to be seen in these areas now – THANK YOU !!!

FOHW strategy is to keep these areas as clear of HB as we can. This will mean there is much less HB to clear next year and we will be able to move into the next meadow.